[Immigration] Court

I wish that I would have jumped up and said,

"Look judge, I am not a lawyer and I do not know everything about this process. Frankly, I do not know if I am even allowed to be speaking right now. But, I do know a few things. I am here busting my ass trying to provide support to this woman seeking asylum in the midst of working three part-time jobs. But, this is not about me. It's about Antonia.

How is a single mother who gave up everything that she had to make the journey to this country, and is not legally allowed to work here, supposed to find a place to live, take care of her child, and on top of all of that, pay for a lawyer?"

After two hours of sitting in the court room waiting while other people's cases were processed, and struggling to stay awake in the midst of a very busy week, I was already feeling on edge when Antonia was called before the judge. I wanted to be able to accompany Antonia to the seat before the judge, but did not think that I was allowed since I am not a lawyer.

So, I watched from the general court seating as the judge asked her why she did not have a lawyer present with her.

She explained that she had contacted 12 lawyers, all of which told her that they were too busy to take on a new case, or that they would require thousands of dollars of down-payment before speaking to her.  The judge asked her if she could hire a lawyer before her next court date at the end of June, and she honestly replied, "I do not know." She was not about to cave to the pressure of the judge's questions. She was honest in reflecting the struggle she was having to find a lawyer, and the pragmatic reality that she may not find someone in another two months.

So, I watched from the general court seating as the judge proceeded to tell her that she had, had enough time to find a lawyer, and would now have to represent herself.

I felt frustration at this system that requires money to buy justice. I felt frustrated at this system in which you have to have a piece of paper from an educational institution worth tens of thousands of even hundreds of thousands of dollars to have a voice. I felt frustrated at this system that seemed to veil communication and knowledge from the common people by speaking in verbiage and through procedures unknown to the common person. I was frustrated that each lawyer Antonia and I spoke to either referred us to another organization or gave us trite counsel accompanied by the words, "but don't take this as legal advice." Was any lawyer really willing to put their skin in the game to help this woman and her daughter?

So, I watched from the general court seating as the judge began to question Antonia about her entry into this country.

"Did you present yourself at the border or did you enter this country illegally?"

I squirmed in my seat, knowing that the answer was simple and easy. She could answer it in one word, but just saying "Illegalmente". But, instead, she proceeded to answer the question as best she could.

Antonia shared that she fled violence in El Salvador with her passport and presented herself to an agent at the border.

She was right. She did present herself to an agent, which is what the judge had asked. The only thing was that the agent was not at a port of entry, but rather on the other side of the border wall after Antonia and her daughter crossed over.

So, I watched from the general court seating as the judge proceeded to ask clarifying questions.

Antonia stumbled through each question, struggling to answer as clearly or concisely as the judge required.

It makes me sad that I am not able to say something for this woman, who knows nothing about this system.

It does not dawn on me until I hear Antonia's honest and innocent answers to the judge's questions. She is not dumb, nor is she trying to take advantage of the system. It is the system that does not make sense.

I realized, Humans are not born with an ingrained knowledge

that there are countries and borders and that you are prohibited from crossing borders without the correct pieces of paper. That when you do cross, you have to do so through a specific set of gates, and you have to take to someone that has a specific badge.

I realized, Humans are not born with an ingrained knowledge

that some threats to one's survival will qualify them to seek refuge in another country, and other threats to one's survival will not qualify them to seek refuge in another country. That threats because of one's politics, religious beliefs, race, nationality, or membership in a social group will qualify them for asylum, but that hunger and poverty will not. Even when that hunger and poverty is largely caused by trade relationships and agreements with other countries, the lingering affects of colonialism and neo-colonialism, and the corruption of government officials and other powerful people.

I realized, Humans are not born with an ingrained knowledge

           

that to find refuge in another country you must be able to document the threats that you face and prove without a doubt the imminent danger that exists. That somehow you must find a way to capture these threats in writing, recordings, and eye-witness accounts, and that you must bring these things with you across thousands of miles of rugged terrain, through rivers and across desserts, and through the encounters with bandits, gangs, drug cartels, rapists, and corrupt policeman and private security. That you must somehow stick around the threat long enough, inquire from those whom you flee, their name, their associations, and the history of what makes them dangerous. That you cannot flee directly to where you are assured safety, but must try living elsewhere in your country first, risking being tracked down and killed, in order to prove that you do, in deed, need to find refuge in a new country.

Antonia has come to learn that there are rules and a process to cross borders, but after applying for a visa four times, and being denied each time, what other option does she have?

How is Antonia supposed to respond when asked if she crossed the border "illegally"? Why would the only option for her be "illegal"?

Does she even know that there are official Ports of Entry, but that because of politics in the U.S. today, she would be forced to wait outside of these gates for days, weeks or even months before her number in line was called? Does she know that the United States is violating international law and human rights by denying asylum seekers entrance to the country in this way?

I think we need to take a big step back and ask ourselves, are people actually bad for crossing the border "illegally"? Or, is it that our system is not inherently known and intuitive to the people outside of our country?

Every homo-sapien is trying to live their life, survive, and even flourish. At the most basic level, we all want to put food on the table for ourselves and our families, provide shelter for ourselves and our families, and live in peace, where we are not threatened and worried about being killed. We will do what it takes to find that kind of safety and security and flourishing.

As I sit in the courtroom,

I ponder, cannot there not be a way for services to be provided to her in exchange for payment down the road once she is safe and secure and settled?  

Cannot there be a way to think of this whole process in a more creative and effective way?

As I sit in the courtroom,

I wish I would have gotten up there to say these things, and I imagine that the judge would've taken offense to my speaking out of turn, my passion, and the word "Ass". I imagine him reprimanding me for my speech.

In that case, I might have said something like, "Hey judge, you might find my language offensive, but I find your language offensive, too.

I think it is offensive to say these people's names with such an appalling accent that the people being called do not even recognize that it is their name being uttered."

I would say, "Hey Judge, how is it that you are the person making these judgments that will affect the rest of these people's lives - putting them in situations that may mean Life or Death - when you know nothing about their culture and their way of life?

Judge, I understand that you cannot know the background and culture from everyone around the entire world. There are thousands of languages spoken around the world, and tens of thousands of different cultures, and every single person has a different life experience, but when the majority of the people coming to your court speak Spanish and come from a Latin American background, it seems like it would be nice for you to know a little bit more about where they come from. It would be nice for you to understand why this process makes no inherent sense to them. Not to mention the fact that our Southern neighbor is Mexico, nor that this ground upon which we stand used to be Mexico, that our state is riddled with towns and rivers and forests and mountains with Spanish names, and that a very, very significant percentage of our country's population speaks this language

Hey judge, you might find my language offensive, but I find your language offensive, too."

I would hope that after saying all this,

that a lawyer would be willing to take on A's case,

that we could put our heads together and think more creatively about how we can meet people's needs going forward,

that more people would step up and get funding to have pro-bono legal services for new arrivals to this country,

that immigrants to the country, after become stable and acclimatized to their life here, would be invited to "pay it forward" to a new arrival of this country by sponsoring their legal fees,

that immigrants would take pride in helping other immigrants,

that maybe, just maybe, we would put our heads together to create a legal system in which money does not buy justice, in which proceedings are accessible and understandable for all,

           

that people that were born in this country would take pride in the fact that we are a country of immigrants and people of diverse backgrounds,

that we would not be trying to exclude and reject each other, but

that we would welcome one another,

love one another,

and embrace one another.

The world is only as scarce and limited as we make it. I choose to live in an abundant world, full of opportunity and saying yes. I hope that you will do the same.

President Eli & Mexican Beer

Yesterday was my first day of canvassing for the Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition Action Fund. We are preparing for the Denver Municipal elections on May 7th, where Denver citizens will be voting for mayor, city council members, and various propositions. I am currently working in District 8 - Northeast Denver - gauging what issues are getting folks out the door to vote, who they are planning to vote for, and above all encouraging and thanking people for doing their civic duty by voting. Basically, I’m getting to meet a lot of amazing people and have conversations about politics with them on their doorstep. It gives me life because I love hearing people’s stories and learning more about this city that I live in and love. My hope is that it also empowers the people that I talk to, to know that change is possible and their voice can and will be heard. Their votes can help elect a candidate that is representative of their values and fights for the good of the community. Over the next month leading up to the Municipal election, and the month after leading up to the run-off election, I hope to share some of the stories from the campaign trail, as well as stories from the past few years of my life, that are giving me life, informing my view of the world and this city, and fueling my fire for justice. I hope that these stories can also spark something in you, make you laugh, or open you to a new conversation.

President Eli 2050. Remember the name!

As I turned the corner on to the 28th block of Pine St., I was given a breath of fresh life. There stood a sister and brother playing basketball. Further down the block two boys rode side-by-side down the street, one on a scooter, and one on a skateboard. And even further down the block, a handful of kids played football in their front yard. I was taken back to the days of my youth playing on the cul-de-sac of Lost Elms Street with my neighbor Koby, running up and down the block, playing basketball and tag, jumping on a trampoline, and then heading home and sweaty and sticky as soon as the street lights came on. The days of Americans knowing their neighbors and kids being able to play outside on the street were not over. Pine St. was alive with the future of America!

As I headed down the block, I talked to the brother and sister about their favorite NBA teams - the Chicago Bulls and Golden State Warriors, and shot a basket. I airballed (sad face). Then, I came upon the boys skating down the block. They were curious about what I was up to, and asked if I was the “salesman guy.” “No”, I replied. “I am the get your parents out to vote guy. Have y’all heard of that guy?” They looked at my kind of funny, but were intrigued. I knocked on a couple more houses and then realized, Why don’t I talk more with these kids? It’s never too early to start talking to youth about the world they envision and the country they would love to see.

So, I asked them, “Are you all going to vote one day?” Dee, a young white kid that looks much like the actor in Macklemore’s music video for “Wings”, jokingly said, “Nah.” Then, both Dee and his friend Eli replied, “Yeah, I think I will do that one day.” I did not think the conversation would go much further, but then Eli, a young African American youth around 10-years old, piped up and said, “I’m gonna be President one day.” “Oh yeah,” I replied, “What would you do as President?”

Eli confidently stated, “I would ban plastic. It can’t be recycled and it is clogging up the ocean. By 2050 there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish.”

Yes, I thought to myself. These kids get it. They understand our relationship to the world and want to make a change.

“What else would you do?” I asked.

“I would get everyone to use metal straws instead of plastic ones. Metal straws can be reused and recycled.”

Through the course of the conversation, I also learned that Eli wanted to send Donald Trump to Africa. It did not seem to becoming from a place of anger, as much as it came from a realization that Trump did not hold the same values as Eli and his neighbors nor did he seem to be awake to the realities of the world, and Eli wanted to give him a new experience to him wake him up. I was impressed.

Eli’s vision of the future and poised speech moved me. This kid could legitimately be the president one day. He seemed to come from a family that embraces the values I would love to see in this country. They had opened the garage of their house to Dee and his family, who were homeless for the time being. Dee said that their previous landlord tried to charge Dee’s mother $7,000 a month to live there, so the family had to move out. Whether the numbers are accurate or not, the truth remains that housing is expensive in Denver, and long-time residents are our community are deeply affected by the shortage of affordable housing. This is something that both Eli and Dee know well.

Eli went on, “It will be Eli and Dee, or Eli and Geo, or Eli and Davon…” While he had not quite figured out who his Vice President would be, remember, Eli 2050.

Mexican Beer

There were a few cars in the driveway on the corner of Pine and 26th. Between the cars and the house, sat a few men. I could hear their Spanish conversation dance down the block as I approached the men. I shuffled between the cars and embraced the opportunity to speak Spanish, greeting the men by saying, “Buenas Tardes. Soy Joshua con la Coalición de Derechos de Inmigrantes de Colorado.” (“Good Afternoon. I am Joshua with the Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition.”) “Inmigración?” (“Immigration?”) they questioned, with a straight-faced humor. “¿Eres la migra?” (“Are you la migra?”) I embraced the opportunity to joke with them, and got down on my knees and put my hands in the air, saying playfully and in all sincerity, “¡No, No, No! No soy la migra. Estoy el opuesto de la migra. Estoy aquí para pelear contra deportación y crear nuevas leyes que protege a los inmigrantes.” (“No, no, no! I am not immigration! I am the opposite. I am here to fight against deportation and create new laws that protect immigrants.”) They laughed at my theatrical display and welcomed me in.

“¿Quieres una cerveza, o un Sparkling Water?” (“Do you want a beer or sparkling water?”) they asked me. This was Mexican hospitality on display. Always open to welcoming in the stranger, to making the table a bit longer, to making the party bigger. I could not decline.

To receive a gift of hospitality is a gift to both the receiver and the giver. This is a lesson that cultures around the world know well, whether Latinx, Middle Eastern, or African. For many in the United States, it would serve us well to learn this tradition of hospitality. Anyways, back to the corner of 26th and Pine St....

The three men introduced themselves. First David, the owner of the house. “In English”, he said, “I am David”, said with an accent over the “a” as we do in English. “En Español”, he continued, “yo soy David”, with an accent over the “i” as is done in Spanish. David then continued, “Este es Juan Casas, o en English, John Houses. Y este es Pancho Rojo, o en English, Frankie Red.” We all laughed at how these Spanish names could so easily be translated into different names in English. Then, I asked the men which names they preferred more, the English or the Spanish.

I learned that David and his counterparts was from Zacatecas, Mexico. David had become a Citizen of the United States and ran a landscaping business, employing Juan and Pancho. As the conversation continued, I asked the men what political issues mattered to them in the upcoming Municipal election, and also in general. As I asked about LGBT rights, they couldn’t pass the opportunity to heckle each other, Juan and Pancho commenting on David loving men. After dishing each other a few immature, but affectionate jokes, David then straightened up to say, “Claro que estoy en favor de los derechos de LGBT. Cada persona tiene sus propios preferencias debe estar respetada. Cada persona puede hacer lo que quiere, y solo que pido yo, es que también respete a mi.” (“Of course I am for LGBT rights. EAch person has their own preferences and should be respected. Each person can do what they want, and I just ask that they respect me, too.”)

Through much of the rest of the conversation, Juan and Pancho remained quiet as David and I discussed policies related to healthcare, affordable housing, racial discrimination, and immigration. Then, I asked about raising the minimum wage, and all of a sudden Juan and Pancho jumped in, “¡Sí, sí!” (“Yes! Yes!”) they exclaimed. “¡Debemos aumentar el salario mínimo!” (“We should increase the minimum wage!”) They embraced the opportunity to joke with their boss (David) about wanting to get paid more. Pancho, jokingly said, “No tengo bastante dinero para un coche. Tengo que montar mi bicicleta.” (“I do not have enough money for a car. I have to ride a bike.”) He was not actually being serious, but David went with it. “No, estoy ayundandole. Estás ahorrando dinero porque no tienes que pagar gas. Y estoy ayudandote a ponerte más fuerte porque estás haciendo más ejercicio.” (“Actually, I am helping you. Now you have more money since you are not paying for gas. And, I am helping you get stronger since you are doing more exercise.”) I chimed in, “Y estás protegiendo al medio ambiente por usar su bici en lugar de manejar.” (“And, you are helping the environment by using your bicycle in place of driving.”) Pancho accepted these new perspectives with a joking naivete, “Ah, entiendo. En realidad, me estás ayudando mucho!” (“Oh, I get it. You are actually helping me a lot!”)

I laughed with these men that had been strangers just a few minutes ago, and was overjoyed by their company, hospitality, and the quick bond we had made on the corner of 26th and Pine St. As David mentioned that life in Capitalist America can be so busy and chaotic, it brought me joy to see that these men were resisting that individualistic dehumanizing tendency to work, work, work and pay no attention to the people around them. Through shared beers and conversation, jokes around lawn chairs in the driveway, these men celebrated life, and celebrated living in a country where they felt free; a country that, despite some faults, by-and-large celebrates diversity and inclusivity.

*some names have been changed to protect the identities of people mentioned in this post*

Longing for Justice

*Sigue en Español*

It is with a heavy heart that I share this news. The last opportunity for Ingrid Encalada Latorre to find relief in the US was denied today. Ingrid has been living in the United States for half of her life – the last 17 years. She came her from Peru to be reunited with her aunt, who raised her. Ingrid began working here, and eventually started a family. Because there were no legal means for her to live and work here, she purchased faked documentation to be able to work. Years later, she discovered that the documents she had purchased were not fabricated, but actually belonged to another person. Ingrid was charged with identity theft. In order to avoid further prison time and be reunited with her son sooner, Ingrid plead guilty to a low-level felony charge. Her lawyer believed at the time that this felony charge would not affect her immigration case to pursue legal relief in the US. To their dismay, Ingrid’s pursuit for legal relief was denied due to this felony charge.

In November of 2016, Ingrid entered sanctuary at Mountain View Friends Meeting in Denver after her last application for a Stay of Removal was denied by ICE. By this point in time, Ingrid had given birth to a second son. Ingrid had also served 4 ½ years of probation and paid $11,500 in back taxes. Ingrid entered Sanctuary with the intent to return to criminal court to show that she had received bad legal advice in pleading guilty to the felony charge. Succeeding in court would allow her to reopen the criminal case to get the charge downgraded to a misdemeanor. If this happened, she would have grounds to reopen her immigration case and pursue legal relief in the US. It was a long shot to relief and would be a long road ahead, but with determination and bravery that I have never seen before, Ingrid plunged forward.

Ingrid made her life public by taking sanctuary. Her story and the information about her case were shared locally and nationally. Her story was made an example and lesson to those uneducated on matters of immigration in the US.  People like me learned more about what it means to be undocumented in the US because of her willingness to share. We learned about the injustice and punity that our nation perpetrates against the people that our most vulnerable here. Sharing her story brought her under the scrutiny of some. But, she made this sacrifice for the pursuit of justice. She made her life transparent to the world with the hope that our nation would recognize her value, her humanity, her divinity, and result in her being able to continue to live here in the US.

Ingrid’s journey for justice faced several major obstacles along the way, making the road much longer. Ingrid took each event in stride and continued to fight with an unbreakable determination. A few weeks ago, the judge rule that Ingrid’s initial criminal lawyer did not exercise malpractice in advising her to plead guilty to the felony. This obstacle left Ingrid with one remaining alternative to relief: asking Governor John Hickenlooper to pardon her felony charge. Over the last few weeks, Ingrid and her friends and allies have made phone calls and sent letters to the governor and his staff. They have camped outside the capitol, sat in the governor’s office, and have spent time praying and fasting – Ingrid and a handful of other individuals fasted for ten days!  After all this time waiting, the governor finally announced his decision today.

He elected to not grant Ingrid a pardon.

From a political perspective, I don't blame the governor in this situation. To pardon Ingrid would've made the person whose identity was stolen feel abandoned and betrayed. It also would have undermined the decisions of the courts that through due process convicted Ingrid of a felony. People would have felt that they lost regardless of the governor's decision.

At the same time, I am heartbroken by this decision.

I am saddened that we live in a nation where protecting someone's ego is more important than keeping a family together, and welcoming the foreigner and refugee.

I mourn the fact that we, as the United States, seek retribution, rather than grace and transformation; that we are not satisfied when restitution has been paid, but instead seek to continue to inflict pain and punishment on others.

I am grieved that our nation values laws and political structure in all of their partiality and triviality over compassion toward fellow humankind; that we are unable to see our brother and sister and meet their needs.

I am angered that we label humans “illegal,” and that we care more about the documents they contain, than their very being.

I lament our unwillingness to forgive, and our inability to give refuge.

I lament our inability to see the humanity and divinity that make each person sacred.

May our nation learn to be a people of love and grace.

May we have eyes to see the sacred present in each person, in each moment.

May we not be ruled by fear, but instead continually seek peace and justice.

May we not allow the rule of law to get in the way of love, the law of God.

May we not put up walls toward each other, but rather learn to embrace one another.

May each and every one of us experience connection with each other.

May we always embrace love.

Support Colorado woman and mother Araceli from El Salvador, now in Sanctuary, by signing the petition below / Apoyen la mujer y madre Coloradense Araceli que vino de El Salvador, que ahora está en Santuario, por firmar la petición abajo:

https://www.afsc.org/action/take-action-help-keep-colorado-family-together

Es con un corazón triste que comparto esta noticia. La última oportunidad para Ingrid Encalada Latorre de encontrar alivio en Estados Unidos fue negada hoy. Ingrid ha estado viviendo en los Estados Unidos por la mitad de su vida - los últimos 17 años. Venía del Perú para reunirse con su tía, que la crió. Ingrid comenzó a trabajar aquí, y eventualmente comenzó una familia. Debido a que no había medios legales para que ella viviera y trabajara aquí, compró documentación falsa para poder trabajar. Después de varios años, descubrió que los documentos que había comprado no eran fabricados, pero en realidad pertenecía a otra persona. Ingrid fue acusado de robo de identidad. Para evitar más prisión y reunirse con su hijo antes, Ingrid se declaró culpable de una felonía de bajo nivel. Su abogado creía que este cargo por felonía no afectaría su caso de inmigración para buscar ayuda legal en los Estados Unidos. Para su consternación, la búsqueda de alivio legal fue negada debido a esta felonía.

En noviembre de 2016, Ingrid entró en el santuario en Mountain View Friends Meeting en Denver después de que su última solicitud para un Stay of Removal fue denegada por ICE. En este punto en tiempo, Ingrid había dado a luz a un segundo hijo. Ingrid también había servido 4 años y medio de probación y pagado 11.500 dólares en impuestos atrasados. Ingrid entró en el Santuario con la intención de regresar a la corte penal para demostrar que había recibido un mal consejo legal al declararse culpable de felonía. Tener éxito en un tribunal le permitiría reabrir el caso criminal para que la acusación se convirtiera en un delito menor. Si esto ocurriera, tendría motivos para reabrir su caso de inmigración y buscar alivio legal en Estados Unidos. Fue un largo tiro de alivio y sería un largo camino, pero con determinación y valentía que nunca he visto antes, Ingrid se lanzó hacia adelante.

Ingrid hizo su vida pública tomando el santuario. Su historia y la información sobre su caso fueron compartidos localmente y nacionalmente. Su historia fue un ejemplo y una lección para aquellos sin educación en la tema de inmigración en los Estados Unidos. La gente como yo aprendió más sobre lo que significa ser indocumentada en los Estados Unidos debido a su disposición a compartir. Aprendimos sobre la injusticia y el castigo que nuestra nación perpetra contra la gente más vulnerable aquí. Compartir su historia la llevó bajo el escrutinio de algunos. Pero ella hizo este sacrificio por la búsqueda de la justicia. Hizo transparente su vida para el mundo con la esperanza que nuestra nación reconociera su valor, su humanidad, su divinidad y resultará en que ella pudiera seguir viviendo aquí en los Estados Unidos.

 El viaje de Ingrid para la justicia se enfrentó a varios obstáculos importantes a lo largo del camino, haciendo que la carretera sea mucho más larga. Ingrid tomó cada acontecimiento en el paso y siguió luchando con una determinación inquebrantable. Hace unas semanas, el juez dictaminó que el abogado criminal inicial de Ingrid no ejerció negligencia al recomendarle que se declarara culpable de felonía. Este obstáculo dejó a Ingrid con una sola alternativa al alivio: pidiendo al gobernador John Hickenlooper que perdonara su cargo por felonía. Durante las últimas semanas, Ingrid y sus amigos y aliados han hecho llamadas telefónicas y han enviado cartas al gobernador y a su personal. Han acampado fuera del capitolio, se han sentado en el despacho del gobernador y han pasado tiempo orando y ayunando. ¡Ingrid y un puñado de otros individuos hicieron huelga de hambre por diez días! Después de todo este tiempo esperando, el gobernador finalmente anunció su decisión hoy.

Él eligió no conceder a Ingrid un perdón.

Desde una perspectiva política, no culpo al gobernador en esta situación. Perdonar a Ingrid habría hecho que la persona cuya identidad fue robada se sintiera abandonada y traicionada. También habría socavado las decisiones de los tribunales que mediante el debido proceso condenó a Ingrid de una felonía. La gente habría sentido que perdieron sin importar la decisión del gobernador.

Al mismo instante, estoy conmovido por esta decisión.

Me entristece que vivamos en una nación donde proteger el ego de alguien es más importante que mantener una familia unida, y dar la bienvenida al extranjero y al refugiado.

Lamento el hecho de que nosotros, como los Estados Unidos, buscamos la retribución, más que la gracia y la transformación; que no estamos satisfechos cuando se ha pagado la restitución, sino que tratamos de seguir infligiendo dolor y castigo a los demás.

Me aflige que nuestra nación valore las leyes y la estructura política en toda su parcialidad y trivialidad sobre la compasión hacia los demás seres humanos; que no podemos ver a nuestro hermano y hermana y satisfacer sus necesidades.

Me enojo que rotulemos a los humanos como "ilegales", y que nos preocupemos más por los documentos que contienen, que por su propio ser.

Lamento nuestra falta de voluntad para perdonar, y nuestra incapacidad para dar refugio.

Lamento nuestra incapacidad de ver la humanidad y la divinidad que hacen a cada persona sagrada.

Que nuestra nación aprenda a ser un pueblo de amor y gracia.

Que tengamos ojos para ver el presente sagrado en cada persona, en cada momento.

Que no seamos gobernados por el temor, sino que buscamos continuamente la paz y la justicia.

Que no permitamos que el imperio de la ley se interponga en el camino del amor, la ley de Dios.

Que no pongamos muros entre nosotros, sino aprendamos a abrazarnos unos a otros.

Que todos y cada uno de nosotros vivamos la conexión unos con otros.

Que siempre podamos abrazar el amor.

Supporting Sanctuary in Denver!

Hey y'all! This a collection of some tangible points of action, information and resources for supporting two immigrants in Sanctuary in Colorado. Their public cases have an affect on public opinion and will likely influence set a precedent for future individuals facing deportation. Thus, by supporting these two individuals and their families, we are also affecting many others whose stories will never make national news. The following is not meant to be a comprehensive list of possible actions, but rather a starting point for those wanting to support immigrants and are unsure of where to start. (If you are interested in advocating for legislation that affects immigrants in Colorado, please let me know and I can provide you with more resources that I have not listed here for the sake of time and space.)


INGRID

Ingrid Encalada Latorre came from Peru and made Colorado her home in 2000 at 17. She has lived almost half of her 33 years here in the US. She has two citizen children, Bryant who is 8 years old and Anibal who is a year old. Anibal has torticollis, a condition which can be treated when the child is young. He sees a physical therapist and needs supervision at home to complete his treatments. If he isn't treated properly now, he'll might need surgery as an adult. Bryant needs his mother so he continues doing well in school and in life.

Ingrid's immigration problems began in 2010. She worked for many years at a nursing home to support herself and her son, Bryant. Like millions of people who need to support their families, she used papers she had purchased to be able to work. This caused the IRS to contact the person to whom the papers belonged and that person filed a police report.

On April 22, 2010 the police arrested Ingrid at her nursing home job. On advice from her lawyer, she agreed to a felony plea and completed 4 1/2 years of probation and paid back $11,500 of back taxes. She didn't know that the felony plea, which allowed her to serve probation and pay fines rather than serve jail time, would prevent her from being able to win her immigration case.

Ingrid found an attorney who is now trying to reopen her criminal case. In order for Ingrid to pursue her day in court without fear of deportation and ensure Anibal completes treatment, she needs a stay of deportation, otherwise it's possible Immigration will detain her at her Jefferson County court date.

On Friday November 25 we asked Immigration and Customs Enforcement in DC to review and approve her application for a stay. On Monday November 28 we notified ICE that she began her witness at Mountain View Friends Meeting.

To read more about Ingrid, check out this article https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/feb/08/sanctuary-movement-undocumented-immigrants-america-trump-obama?utm_source=esp&utm_medium=Ema

**Sign Ingrid's petition to show government officials that she has our community support https://action.groundswell-mvmt.org/petitions/keep-ingrid-home-let-her-attend-court-safely

**If you live in Jefferson County, and especially if you are a leader of faith or a business owner, we need folks to write letters to the JeffCo District Attorney on behalf of Ingrid. We are not trying to talk the DA into any specific action, but rather want to show that Ingrid has support from our community. If you are interested in doing this, please let me know and I can send you more details.

**Ingrid and Anibal (her son) would like people to visit them and bring them food, Ingrid wants to practice English (her English is really good!), learn crafts, and exercise (either with someone or alone while someone watches Anibal). Let me know if you are interested in any of these things and I can get you access to her sign-up.

**Post about Ingrid, share an article about her, share your thoughts supporting her and use #KeepIngridHome

**Write a letter to Ingrid Latorre (english or spanish) sharing your support for her and her family.  Mail it to:
2280 S Columbine St.
Denver, CO 80210



JEANETTE

Jeanette Vizguerra immigrated to the US without documents in 1997. Her husband, previously a bus driver in Mexico City, had received death threats. They were fleeing violence and seeking out new opportunity. Jeanette worked hard in the US, had three kids, and became a leader in the immigrant community in Denver. In 2009, Jeanette was pulled over by an officer without cause. She was arrested for not having a license or insurance (undocumented people could not get Drivers Licenses in Colorado at the time). The charges were later dropped. Her vehicle was searched and paperwork for a job application was discovered, in which Jeanette had used a fake Social Security Number. Jeanette spent over 30 days in jail and the private immigrant GEO prison in Aurora, Colorado. The event was traumatic. Ever since the arrest, Jeanette has had to fight with all her might to stay in the US.

Jeanette received a deportation order several years ago, and has been applying for extensions of stay before removal ever since. Usually those have been granted, but last week her application was denied leading her to take sanctuary in First Unitarian Society of Denver. Jeanette currently has had a U-visa pending because of violence she suffered in the US. This is a visa given to someone who has suffered physical or mental abuse in the US and has supplied law enforcement with testimony to prosecute perpetrators. Jeanette is hoping to gain long-term relief in the US through this visa. Until then, her community will be standing by her side and yelling with the same energy and enthusiasm and love that she always carries.

To read more about Jeanette, check out this article: http://www.cnn.com/2017/02/15/us/colorado-mom-vizguerra-ice-trnd/index.html

(There are also a lot of other national articles that have been released on Jeanette since February 15th)

**Sign the Petition for Jeanette to show that she has our community support: https://action.groundswell-mvmt.org/petitions/jeanette-s-family-needs-her?bucket&source=facebook-share-button&time=1487082897

**Sign up to visit Jeanette, bring her a meal or drive her kids to school. Let me know if you are interested in any of these things and I can get you access to her sign-up.

**Post about Jeanette, share an article about her, share your thoughts supporting her and use #JeanetteBelongsHere
or
#JeanettePerteneceAqui

**Write a letter to Jeanette Vizguerra (english or spanish) sharing your support for her and her family.  Mail it to:
1400 Lafayette
Denver, CO 80218

JENETTE & INGRID

**Donate to Metro Denver Sanctuary Coalition to support the legal and professional services of Jeanette and Ingrid and others who may enter Sanctuary: https://www.metrodenversanctuary.org/visit_us

**Follow Metro Denver Sanctuary Coalition on Facebook to learn more about the New Sanctuary Movement - specifically how it is manifesting in Denver - and to hear about events supporting Jeanette and Ingrid.

**Sign up to be a part of a rapid response phone tree to document, slow and hopefully stop a deportation of Ingrid, Jeanette and anyone else who may enter sanctuary in Denver. Up to this point, the government has respected churches and other places of worship as sanctuaries that they will not enter to detain and deport someone. However, there is no guarantees that the government will continue to respect this long-standing practice. Thus, we are forming a group of people that can be called if ICE agents ever were to show up at the doors of First Unitarian Society of Denver of Mountain View Friends Meeting. People would be expected to show at these churches to witness and record what is happening. You would not be expected to put yourself in harms way or physically stop ICE, but rather provide public eyes to what is happening to pressure ICE agents to stop and to be a witness to the rest of our nation and world. If you live in Denver, and especially if you live close to one of these churches, and are willing to be a part of this rapid response phone tree, please send me your name, e-mail and phone number. Once the rapid response phone tree is established, more details and information will be provided.

Thanks y'all!